Gerard Butler to be made ambassador of Glasgow Film OfficeThe Hollywood star will hope his new role will mean it is easier to film in the city.

Hollywood star Gerard Butler will be made an ambassador for the Glasgow Film Office on Tuesday.

It is hoped that Mr Butler’s endorsement of the office will help the Glasgow Film Partnership, which has been created to make the process of filming on location in Glasgow as simple as possible.

Ahead of the launch, which will take place on Tuesday morning, Mr Butler said: "I'm very honoured to be asked to be Glasgow Film Office's ambassador. Anything I can do to support the local film and television industry is worthwhile.

"I wish Glasgow Film Office every success in the launch of the Glasgow Film Partnership and hope the benefits of this new initiative will lead to increased production in the city very soon."

Gerard Butler became famous to audiences worldwide for his performance in 300. His new film Law Abiding Citizen is just out in cinemas across the country.

Councillor George Ryan, executive member for business and the economy at Glasgow City Council, added: "I am delighted that an actor of such global renown as Gerard Butler has lent his support to Glasgow Film Office, and this can only help our efforts to attract even more film and broadcast activity to Glasgow in the future through the Glasgow Film Partnership launched today."

Jennifer Reynolds, film commissioner for Glasgow Film Office commented: "I am absolutely thrilled that Gerard Butler has agreed to become our ambassador. His profile helps lend credibility to Glasgow and combined with his support for our office, he will help to publicise Glasgow within the film industry.

"He shares with Glasgow Film Office a strong passion for raising the profile of the city and we look forward to future collaborations and opportunities to promote Glasgow together."

Glasgow is the centre of the film and television production industry in Scotland, contributing nearly £18million directly to the city economy in 2008.

Glasgow Film Office works with council departments, Strathclyde Police and productions to ensure that all filming activity occurs with the minimum impact on the everyday life of citizens and businesses of the city while delivering the maximum economic impact.

Gerard Butler has starred in Hollywood hits such as 300 Hollywood star Gerard Butler has thrown his weight behind promoting the city of Glasgow in an effort to boost the number of films shot in the city.

The Paisley-born actor, who starred in films such as 300 and PS, I Love You, has been made the new ambassador for the Glasgow Film Office.

It heads a partnership which aims to make the process of arranging filming in the city as "simple as possible".

Last year film and TV productions were said to have generated about £18m.

The Glasgow Film Office heads the Glasgow Film Partnership which brings together organisations such as Glasgow City Council, the Centre of Contemporary Arts, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Opera.

In the past 12 months GFO has helped 15 productions film scenes in the city, including the movie The Last Word starring Ewan McGregor.

GFO offers a free service, which includes advice on locations, to productions wanting to film in the city.

Its new figurehead said he was delighted to do anything he could to support the film and television industry in Glasgow.

Butler said: "I'm very honoured to be asked to be Glasgow Film Office's ambassador, anything I can do to support the local film and television industry is worthwhile.

"I wish Glasgow Film Office every success in the launch of the Glasgow Film Partnership and hope the benefits of this new initiative will lead to increased production in the city very soon."

The Scottish born star of The Ugly Truth and Law Abiding Citizen will serve an initial two-year term.

Butler is currently developing a number of projects for his production company Evil Twins but the one most likely to bring him back to Scotland is Burns, a long-waited account of Robert Burns life that has Vadim Jean attached to direct.

“We are taking another shot at the script. We are trying to make it a lot more fun and romantic and more commercial,” Butler reveals.

At a ceremony on December 1 in Glasgow Scotland, Gerard Butler was officially launched as the first Ambassador for Glasgow Film Office (GFO). The 300 and Law Abiding Citizen Scottish-born star will serve an initial two-year term in the effor to help attract film and broadcast activity to Glasgow through the Glasgow Film Partnership.

Prior to the launch, Butler commented "I'm very honoured to be asked to be Glasgow Film Office's ambassador. Anything I can do to support the local film and television industry is worthwhile.

"I wish Glasgow Film Office every success in the launch of the Glasgow Film Partnership and hope the benefits of this new initiative will lead to increased production in the city very soon."

He further said, “Glasgow is a great place to make movies. You can shoot anything here from urban and contemporary to rural and period. The crews are fantastic and it is an easy city to get around rather than spending the endless hours in traffic when you make movies elsewhere.”

Film commissioner for Glasgow Film Office, Jennifer Reynolds, said "I am absolutely thrilled that Gerard Butler has agreed to become our ambassador. His profile helps lend credibility to Glasgow and combined with his support for our office, he will help to publicize Glasgow within the film industry.

"He shares with Glasgow Film Office a strong passion for raising the profile of the city and we look forward to future collaborations and opportunities to promote Glasgow together."

Gerard recently demonstrated his support for Glasgow by holding the UK premiere of his latest film, Law Abiding Citizen, in the city. Fans from all over the world attended the event on a cold November Sunday evening in celebration of the first project from his production company Evil Twins.

Evil Twins is currently developing a project close to Gerard's heart, Burns, a film centered on the Scottish poet.

Attached to the film since 2004, Butler recently told Empire Magazine, "Burns will happen... We are kind of shaking the whole thing up right now. I think we're going to try a different writer and see if we can have a different approach because it's not been without problems, but it's definitely a story that should be told."

It is hoped this new approach will make the film more commercially attractive, by making it more fun and romantic.